1. Aim: What are the different roles of organisms in an environment? DN: What is meant by carrying capacity? Does every species have the same carrying capacity in an ecosystem? Explain.

2. What ecological level is this? Community The different types of populations in a given ecosystem

3. Habitat A specific area where an organism lives What is Nemo’s habitat?

4. Does everybody in a community have the same job? No, each organism has its own ROLE in a community or No, each organism has its own ROLE in a community orNICHE

5. What is the niche of a plant population in a community? To produce food using the energy from the sun To produce food using the energy from the sun Producers - organisms that can make their own food Producers - organisms that can make their own food

6. What is the niche of herbivores in a community? To eat plants To eat plants To act as a limiting factor to help maintain the carrying capacity of plants To act as a limiting factor to help maintain the carrying capacity of plants Primary Consumers- animals that eat plants. Primary Consumers- animals that eat plants.

7. What is the role of carnivores in a community? To eat animals/meat To eat animals/meat Secondary Consumers- eat primary consumers. Secondary Consumers- eat primary consumers. To act as a limiting factor for the herbivores. To act as a limiting factor for the herbivores. Keeps the population of herbivores in check (not too many!)

8. What is the niche of bacteria & fungi? To return nutrients back to the soil by breaking down dead organisms To return nutrients back to the soil by breaking down dead organisms Decomposers – breakdown dead organisms Decomposers – breakdown dead organisms Bacteria & Fungi (mushrooms). Bacteria & Fungi (mushrooms).

9. Why are decomposers the “Recyclers” of the ecosystem? They break down dead organisms & at the same time return raw materials back to the ecosystem.

10. What is a scavenger’s niche? To eat animal’s that were killed & leftover by secondary consumers

12. What happens if two organisms occupy the same niche? Organisms would compete until the best adapted population wins. Organisms would compete until the best adapted population wins. Organisms can sometimes appear to occupy the same niche, but under more careful examination, they do not. Organisms can sometimes appear to occupy the same niche, but under more careful examination, they do not.